With Disney’s new film Frozen arriving in theaters this week, staffers pick their favorite animated movies from the house Walt built
Frozen, Nov. 27, 2013
What’s the holiday season without the movies? This Thanksgiving, Disney releases Frozen, a film loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. It tells the story of two princesses, who live together in the beautiful kingdom of Arendelle. Family blood runs cold when Elsa, who is about to become queen, develops powers over ice and snow and unintentionally freezes the kingdom over. In fear of causing more harm, Elsa spirits herself away and it’s up to Anna to find her and save the kingdom. This flick promises talking snowmen, trolls, rugged mountain men, and of course, singing. –Kayla Peterson
Aladdin, 1992
Aladdin is one of the best Disney movies ever because of the adventures, great music and colorful characters. Street rat Aladdin stumbles upon the beautiful, soon-to-be married Jasmine, and falls for her instantly. The evil sorcerer is creepy and voyeuristic while the genie provides a hilarious, lighter side to the film. From the crazy twists to the romance between Aladdin and Jasmine, Aladdin definitely has a lot of comedy, historical references, and even singing that can easily keep someone’s attention throughout. –Kristin Nicol
Brave, 2012
When I first began watching Brave, I thought it’d be another corny Disney movie that wouldn’t seem in any way realistic. But after, I felt so refreshed. The story of the power of bravery and love between a daughter and a mother makes it such a fantastic movie. Not to mention the voice acting in Brave is probably among some of the best I’ve heard. The way the accents and voices represent the characters makes it seem much more real. Brave has inspired me to be my own person and move mountains. It’s undoubtedly my favorite movie of all time. –Bridget O’Malley
The Lion King, 1994
The funny thing about The Lion King is the first time I watched it as a child I loved it because of the fun, catchy songs and the talking animals. But when I watched it again nearly eight years later, I was literally moved to tears. Few films (animated or otherwise) have succeeded in teaching more wisdom than the story of the banished prince returning home, and even fewer have captivated as many hearts. The Lion King teaches you that you can either run from the past or learn from it and to remember who you are. Also, it taught us to roar way before Katy Perry did. –Kayla Peterson
The Little Mermaid, 1989
The Little Mermaid is an all-time classic story about a 16-year-old mermaid princess who dreams of being human girl. Ariel’s curiosity about the human world causes her to fall in love and make a deal with one of the best villains of all time, Ursula. My favorite character is Scuttle, Ariel’s seagull friend, who provides help in hilarious and unpredictable ways. The trials and tribulations of Ariel are comical and heartfelt, making it my favorite Disney movie and a great movie for people of all ages. It is definitely my go-to rainy day movie. – Kristina Jingling
Mulan, 1998
From family honor to little talking dragons, Mulan is by far my favorite Disney move. Mulan is a 16-year old that tries to follow the traditional role set for women, but is just too much of a tomboy. When a man from each family is called out to war, Mulan takes her father’s place as a soldier in disguise. This movie is not only hilarious, but has tons of true historical facts, making it both interesting and comical, and who doesn’t love little talking dragons? –Jordan Buie
Sleeping Beauty, 1959
I’ve always thought Sleeping Beauty was about magic and adventure, but as I watched it again over the year, the story has much more meaning to me. Sleeping Beauty is not only funny with its singing and dancing (not to mention the amazing battle scenes with the dragon), it is also heart-warming. It shows how far a person would go to save the person they love, and I believe that’s the best way to express love for another.–Jariah Johnson
Tangled, 2010
When it comes to Disney movies, Tangled is definitely at the top of my list. This fairly new movie puts a spin on the classic Rapunzel tale, featuring a girl with beautiful 70-foot long magical hair. I find it hilarious how clumsy the hair makes her while she’s trying to be graceful. I think the main reason most girls watch it is to see the kingdom’s most wanted—not to mention, extremely attractive—bandit Flynn Rider. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a movie with cute guys and super cool hair? –Annabeth Gibson
Treasure Planet, 2002
I’ve always loved tales of pirates and treasure as a kid, so when I discovered Treasure Planet, it became my favorite Disney movie. Adapted from the novel Treasure Island, the film follows the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his companions as they set out across the universe. I loved how the film seamlessly joined the worlds of pirates and science fiction. Filled with mishaps, comedy and the underlying theme of friendship and family, it’s a must see for people of all ages. So climb aboard sailors, the adventure awaits. –Lauren Estrada
